Illuminated sign.



PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

S. I. BUTTBRS.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 9,1905.

lmmmz At ney a mum! 00.. Pmwumocwun No. 797,492. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

S. I. BUTTERS.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

. APPLICATION TILED JAN.9',1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" Affomey '7 U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed January 9, 1905. Serial No. 240,263.

. ence being had therein to the accompanymg drawings.

This invention relates to illuminated signs, and partlcularly to a structure composed of a plurality of sections which may be assembled in varied relations.

The invention has for an object to improve the construction of the sections of an illuminated sign whereby they may be economically produced and operated and an eflicient simple structure effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrange ment of the reflectors for use Within an illuminated sign and of the means for conducting an electric current and for supporting an illuminating-lamp within the sign.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sign with parts broken away and in section; Fig. 2, a central horizontal section of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig; 8, a central vertical section of the connecting ornament for the supporting-rods of the sign; Fig. d, a detail perspective view of the flange provided at one end of the sign-sections; Fig. 5, a horizontal section through the abutting ends of two sections of the sign; Fig. 6, a plan View of a similar part; .Fig. 7, a side elevation of one'of the sign-sections with the translucent material removed; Fig. 8, a vertical section throughthe parts shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9, a detail horizontal section of a modified arrange ment'of the reflectors, and Fig. 10 a perspective view of a modified assemblage of the signsections.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in'the several figures of the drawings.

- The sign herein illustrated is composed of a series of sections, each of substantially similar construction, and embodying a body portion A, bent into any desired configuration, and provided at one or both sides with an opening A to permit the passage of light outward therefrom. The body may be formed of a single piece open at its bottom and there provided with inturned flanges A which are secured to a base-plate A provided with an upwardly-extending flange A at each end spaced from the body A of the sign so as to provide a seat or groove to receive the translucent member B inserted before the opening A of each section. For the purpose of providing a side groove to retain the translucent plate B in position each of the sign-sections is provided at one end with a laterally-disposed portion A having at its free end oppositely-disposed flanges A", spaced from the body A of the section. These flanges A pro vide a seat to receive the telescoping free end A of each section. This telescoping end at the upper portion of the sign extends beneath the overlapping portion A of an adjacent section, which is disposed at the flanged end of the section, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Within each of the sections a bottom brace C is provided, having at opposite sides inclined portions 0', each provided beneath the same with conduits for the electric conducting-wires C for conveying current to the lamps C used for illuminating the sign. These lamps may be supported in any desired manner-for instance, by means of brackets C, secured to the bottom plate adjacent to each of theopenings A, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and7, while the current is conveyed to the lamps from the conductors in the opposite conduits by means of loops G as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, such wires being passed through a suitable opening in the inclined walls G of the bottom brace C.

The sign-sections are capable of being supported in various manners, and a desirable form thereof is herein shown as comprising the tubular portion D, secured to the top and bottom of each sign member and adapted to receive the supporting-rod D, Fig. 3, passing through the tubes D and threaded into a corner-piece D so as to be adjustable thereon.

The sign-sections are each provided with open ends, and when assembled to form the signthe ends of the final sections in each series are closed by means of cover-plates E and E, the former fitting over the free end of the section by means of a flange E and the latter provided with a flange E adapted to fit Within flange A at the free end of the final section. Each of these cover-plates is provided with tubular portions D secured thereto and adapted to receive the rods D*, by which the parts are supported in position, these rods being adjustably connected to the corner-piece rods D, as shown in Fig. 3.

D by means of the threaded pin D rotatably mounted in said piece and having a threaded end D entering a socket in the end of the By this means when the sections are assembled they may be drawn into close and tight contact, and thus held by means of the corner connections herein shown or any other desirable form of adjustable connection. When found desirable, any suitable character of ornament, such as shown at D may be provided upon the coverplate.

The translucent plates B, which are retained in position bythe flanges Aand A upon the sections, may be of any desired character or material suitable for permitting the passage there through of the light-rays from within the sign and may contain letters or other characters found suitable for the purpose. At opposite sides of each of the lamps 0 within the'sign, are reflectors B of curved formation, preferably having their convexed face next the lamp, so that the rays of light are directed within the area of the opening of the framesection and reflected therethrough. These openings may be provided upon opposite sides of the sections, as shown in Fig. 2, or, if found desirable, the opening A may be omitted from one wall thereof and a supplemental reflector B disposed at that point, Fig. 9, while, if desired, the reflectors B at each side of the lamp may be disposed with their concaved faces next thereto. It has been found desirable to form this reflecting-surface of a corrugated shape, as well assegmental, thus more evenly distributing the reflecting and lighttransmitting power thereof.

The illuminating-lamps for the sign may be disposed at either the top or bottom thereof or in both positions, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which construction the brace and conduits to the lamp are duplicated at the top of the case. Any desired form of light may be used instead of the electric lamp herein shown. The sign-sections are capable of being assembled in different relations to form a sign reading either vertically or horizontally, and in the former instance the parts maybe assembled as shown in Fig. 10, wherein each of the sections may be so disposed within the supporting-rods that the letters or characters therein may be read in a vertical plane. This may be accomplished by the use of end covers E provided at one of the open ends of each section and having secured thereto tubular sections E through which the supportingrods E pass, which rods are connected by the corner-pieces D as hereinbefore described. The cover E is used at the opposite end of each section. V

The sign is composed of independent sections which are interchangeable in position and character and when assembled within the frames and secured by the rods, as hereinbefore described, are adapted to receive the desired letter-plates, which are illuminated by the lamps disposed within the sign, and these lamps may be readily connected with the conducting-wires disposed in the opposite conduits within the sign-sections. These conduits provide a protection for theelectric conductors, by which they are removed from any contact with the atmospheric conditions or from any possibility of short-circuiting by contact with each other. The corrugated segmental reflectors at opposite sides of each lamp concentrate the'rays of light so as to most efficiently illuminate the sign-plates inserted within the sections, while the telescoping connections between these sections permit their assemblage in close contact, and the series thereof may be increased or decreased at will by the insertion or removal of sections.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in'the details of construction and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what 1 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sign comprising a plurality of independentsections constructed and arranged for engaging contact with each other, means for removably supporting sign-plates upon each of said sections, and a supporting-frame connected with the assembled sections.

2. A sign comprising a plurality of independent sections adapted to be disposed in contact with each other, means for removably supporting sign-plates upon each of said sections, a supporting-frame surrounding the assembled sections, and means for adjusting said frame at the points of intersection thereof.

3. A sign comprising a plurality of independent sections adapted to be disposed in.

contact with each other, means for removably supporting sign-plates upon each of said sections, a supporting-frame surrounding the assembled sections, means for adjusting said frame at the points of intersection thereof, illuminating means within each section of said sign, and reflectors disposed at opposite sides of said illuminating means.

4. A sign-section comprising a body portion having an apertured side wall, illuminating means opposite said aperture, convexed reflectors disposed at the opposite sides of said aperture, and a bottom brace for said section inclined at its opposite sides to provide conduits.

5. A sign-section comprising a body portion having an apertured side wall, illuminating means opposite said aperture, convexed reflectors disposed at the opposite sides of said aperture, a bottom brace for said section inclined at its opposite sides to provide conduits, a flange surrounding the bottom and one side of said aperture, and a sign-plate adapted to be retained by said flange.

6. A sign-section comprising an apertured tions each provided with tubular members secured to the'outer wall thereof, supportingrods extending through said tubes, a cornerpiece adjustably threaded upon each of said rods, and pins rotatably mounted in said corner-pieces and ad uStabIy threaded into an intersecting rod.

9. In a sign, a plurality of sections open at their opposite ends and supported in overlapping contact with each other, and coverplates for the open end of the terminal sections.

10. In a sign, a plurality of sections open at their opposite ends and supported in overlapping contact With each other, cover-plates for the open end of the terminal sections, conduits provided at the opposite sides of each of said'sections, an electric conductor extending through said conduits, and an electric lamp supported Within each section intermediate of the conduits.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL I. BUTTERS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED T. GAGE, U. M. FORREST. 

